Congressmen Introduce Game Labeling Bill

Congressmen Joe Baca (D-Calif.) and Frank Wolf (R-Va.) on Monday introduced a bill that would require most video games to bear a warning label that says, "WARNING: Exposure to violent video games has been linked to aggressive behavior."

I guess the rest of our nations problems have been solved.

The Bill would require every game, except ones rated EC (Early Childhood), to carry the warning text. That means any game that is rated "E" for everyone, "E10+" for everyone 10 and older, "T" for teen, "M" for mature or "A" for adult. Even if the game isn't violent.

"Just as we warn smokers of the health consequences of tobacco, we should warn parents — and children — about the growing scientific evidence demonstrating a relationship between violent video games and violent behavior," Wolf said. "As a parent and grandparent, I think it is important people know everything they can about the extremely violent nature of some of these games."

I'm not going to waste my time pointing out how a link between violent games and real violence has never been established in any meaningful way, nor will I belabor the point that the people proposing this law are paid for with taxpayer money, nor will I point out that mandatory labeling of art work is almost certainly unconstitutional. Instead, I'll look on the bright side, and say, hey, at least it's a bipartisan bill, which proves that the Democrats and Republicans can work together as long as they're doing something dumb.